Politics
Exposed: Those who want Tompolo jailed
By PRINCE MONDAY WHISKEY,
Regional Editor, South-South
THESE are not the best of times for former militant Leader and founder of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo.Despite his resolve to maintain a low profile and collaborate, where possible with the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, it would seem as though that effort is everyday been thwarted by forces who want the ex-warlord humiliated and out rightly jailed. And it would seem as the list of Tompolo’s traducers is growing by the day.
However, five principal actors are said to be united in this devilish plot around which a web of intrigues has been drawn. For these men, the founder of MEND has to be cowed and possibly put behind bars if they are to succeed in an alleged plot to overrun the Niger Delta and take control of the oil and gas which is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy.
Beyond this unity of purpose, National Daily have also learnt of personal grudges as well as bruised egos as reasons why these powerful men want the former militant behind bars. But it would seem that Tompolo’s associates and supporters are not letting go so easily. On the country, they have warned of grave consequences should the plot to jail their patron and benefactor succeed.
National Daily’s Regional Editor, Prince Monday Whiskey x-rays the unfolding plot and the contending forces which seek to stop it.
The Conspirators President Buhari in a warm handshake with Chief Michael Johny
The first border on national security. The President is said to be convinced based on alleged intelligence available to him that the MEND Leader has an armoury and could pose a huge threat on efforts to tackle militancy, bunkering and oil theft in the Niger Delta.
Sources claim that Tompolo, who once controlled the dreaded Camp 5, assumed a larger than life image on security matters after purchasing warships for the Nigerian Maritime Safety Agency (NIMASA), and is highly feared on issues bordering on military weaponry. Another reason given for the President’s disdain is the ex-militant’s closeness to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The assumption is that Tompolo may have stashed away huge sums of money, running into N60billion on behalf of Jonathan and that no fight to curb corruption and silence the former President would be deemed successful without putting his purse man in the cage.
Rotimi Amaechi – In the case of the former Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, his entanglement with Tompolo is said to be a fallout of the fight between him and President Jonathan and battle to regain control of Rivers. Insiders reveal that the ex-warlord checkmated Amaechi’s move to humiliate Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan.
He was also alleged to have played a pivotal role in ensuring that Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defeated Amaechi’s lackey, Dakuku Peterside who ran for the governorship on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Following Tompolo’s alleged role in nearby Bayelsa State and the near defeat of the APC in the polls, the former governor and current Transport Minister is said to have pleaded with the President that Tompolo must be taken off the scene in the event of a likely rerun between Wike and Peterside.
Timipre Sylva – If there’s one man said to be living in morbid fear of the MEND boss, it is Chief Timipre Sylva, former Bayelsa Governor and gubernatorial candidate of the APC in the January 9, 2016 supplementary election.
His opponent is Hon Sierake Dickson, incumbent governor and candidate of the PDP. Sylva’s fear stemmed from the fact that the coming polls is to take place in Southern Ijaw Local Government, where Tompolo and his associates stopped alleged APC thugs and hirelings from rigging the December 5 election, leading to the results being cancelled and exercise declared inconclusive.
The former governor is said to have impressed on the APC that soldiers and other security agencies to be deployed in the coming election may be rendered prostate By Tompolo and his men.
Michael Johnny – Not a few people were surprised when Chief Michael Johnny, Chairman of Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation issued a statement supporting the invitation of Chief Ekpemupolo by the EFCC to report to their office or risk being declared wanted.
Chief Johnny claimed that only N300million was received by his community out of the N13billoon said to have been paid by NIMASA for the Maritime University in Okerenkoko. Of course another group quickly issued a rebuttal and passed vote of confidence on Tompolo.
But at the heart of the twist in the story is Johnny’s famed inordinate ambition to serve as a counterbalance force to the MEND boss as well as a link man to Buhari as far as the Niger Delta is concerned. He hopes to benefit from Tompolo’s fall.
Ayiri Emami – if there’s one man likely to benefit from Tompolo’s descent it is Chief Ayiri Emami, the Warri billionaire and Chieftain of the APC in Delta State. Both men are known to be in perpetual conflict for control of the creeks in Delta. Ayiri fought a bitter battle with Tompolo over the siting and naming of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko.
He’s also said to be interested in taking over the pipeline contract awarded to Tompolo by former President Jonathan. With Ayiri expressing open support for Timipre Sylva in the Bayelsa polls, taking out Tompolo would effectively paved the way for the APC Chieftain and chairman of A & E Petroleum to take charge of the creeks.
The fight back
Notable pressure groups in the South South have risen in unison to defend the former leader of the dreaded Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) High Chief Government Ekpemukpolo (alias Tompolo) describing the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and all those behind his current travail as agents of darkness who do not wish Nigeria well.
The National President of the Urhobo Youth Assembly, Comrade Frank Akpore, spokesperson for the third phase ex-agitator group, Gen. Ebiowei Perekebena and National President, Ijaw People Development Initiative (IPDI) Comrade Austin Ozobo and Comrade Ebi Wayas, National President, Association of Izonebe Law Students have all condemned in the strongest terms the politically instigated harassment of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo.
In his reaction, Comrade Frank Akpore said “no right thinking government will want to take on a new crisis in the Niger Delta when Boko Haram is ravaging the North-East and the oil resources of the south south is greatly needed to fund the nation’s military and enhance the sustainance of the democracy in the country.”
“I see the ongoing drama as avoidable moreso, when the initial impression created by the EFCC that the Ijaw High Chief scammed the Federal Government in a land deal is no longer tenable as recent information indicated clearly that Chief Government Ekpemukpolo sold his landed properties without forcing the Federal Government as a take off campus of the Federal University of Marine Technoloy in Okerenkoko, Gbaramatu Kingdom”.
Speaking further, Akpore said, “if the sold properties were to be in Abuja or Lagos their value cannot be less than N40billion and yet the EFCC is claiming that he scammed the Federal Government to the tune of N13billion”.
Reacting in the same vein, the spokesperson for the third phase ex-agitators, Gen. Ebiowei Perekebena (a.k.a General Hot Water) said “the Federal Government should urgently tender an unreserved apology to High Chief Government Ekpemukpolo for the embarrassment and deliberately misleading Nigerians to believe that their leader is a man of questionable character.
In his words, “In as much as we support the anti-corruption crusade of the APC led Federal Government, we cannot sit aloof and watch some disgruntled and frustrated persons of Ijaw extraction who want to find favour in the APC government drag our region and people into avoidable crises”.
Ekpemukpolo, he said, “has always carried on in the best and larger interest of the Niger Delta ex-agitators to the best of his abilities and whoever has a score to settle with him must come to equity with clean hands and not people of questionable character”.
The National President, National Association of Izonebe Students, Comrade Ebi Wayas has faulted Chief Ayiri “barbaric” advise in seeking to lure Tompolo to alleged enemies of the Ijaw people. According to Comrade Wayas,, “people like Chief Ayiri has longed be wishing Tompolo dead but he is not God. His betrayal against Tompolo is not strange to the Ijaw people. We know our God and gods will continue to defend Tompolo who is the exceptional liberator of the Izon race and no amount of blackmail, propaganda can change that”.
Continuing, the activist said “if actually Tompolo has any issue with the government, we expect Chief Ayiri Emami and other self acclaimed freedom fighters to rise up and speak the truth as patriots which we doubt they are and not making political statement as if they are saints.
He advise Chief Emami and his cohorts to stay clear from all Ijaw related issues as Ijaw people have not concerned themselves with Itsekiri related issues, warning that he should not create a new and avoidable crisis in the Niger Delta.
Michael Johnny is frustrated – Comrade Ozobo
On his part, the National President of Ijaw People Development Initiative (IPDI) Comrade Austin Ozobo said Chief Michael Johnny and his co-horts are embarking on an empty voyage and their attempt to blackmail Tompolo before the Nigerian public will certainly meet a bricks wall.
“It is unhead of that a full blooded Ijaw man like Johnny will wake up and petition Tompolo without any justification. We see him as an enemy of Ijaw and the Niger Delta region. Whatever their differences, it is very awkward for Michael Johnny to attempt to sell Tompolo to the APC led Government. Chief Michael Johnny as the current Chairman, Gbaramatu Egbema Development Forum should know better how government programmes are executed and we have data to show that Chief Michael Johnny is not a saint as he claimed.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Okerenkoko Federated Communities of Gbaramatu, in Warri South-West Local Government Council of Delta State which the APC chieftain Chief Michael Johnny claimed to speak for has denied authorising him as their spokesperson.
In a press statement signed by Chief James Tangbowei, Chairman, Mr. Monday Meyefa, Vice Chairman, Comrade Ernest Bebenimibo, Secretary and Joe Ekpebide, Public Relations Officer said the Okerenkoko Community is very much in support of High Chief Government Ekpemukpolo (a.k.a Tompolo) leadership and wondered who the APC leader is speaking for.
The statement said “we make bold to say that the author had no backing of leadership of the community, neither was he mandated to speak for the community. He can speak for himself as an individual but not for the community.
“Again, it is very unfortunate that the author does not know the crux of Tompolo’s invitation by EFCC as it has nothing to do with the community land acquisition for the permanent site of the University. The acquisition of the permanent site was concluded amicably and even the author got his fare share from the sale.
“To educate the author and the general public, Tompolo’s invitation has nothing to do with the sale of community land but the sale of his vastly developed personal property at Krutie Community which he had built for his Diving school which was legally acquired by the Federal Government as a take-off campus of the school.
“The property in question from our enquiry was valued at over N15billion but was sold for N13billion after bargains and was perfected and signed by authorities of the Federal Government. So those who have personal vendetta and scores to settle with the High Chief should distance the community name in such frolic.
“Because of the misinformation that is being peddled, our community account has also been frozen, we wonder why the EFCC should embark on an unnecessary war against us. This surely is the handiwork of our enemies but we shall remain peaceful.
“Tompolo is our hero and an illustrious son in whom we are proud. His battle for emancipation of the Ijaw nation the marginalization by the federal is well known. We warn his persecutors should tread with caution and not drag the name of the community and kingdom into mud.”